1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
This play is not told in chronological order, it shifts from different time periods and therefore, I think the stasis is the entirety of Li'l Bit's childhood. The protagonist is Li'l Bit, she is a young girl in a family with a difficult dynamic.Her Uncle Peck married into the family and is a charismatic and persuasive character. He fills the role of a father figure since Li'l Bit's father is not present in her life. 2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when we discover that Peck is the girl's much older uncle and that the sexual abuse/pedophilia has been occurring for quite some time. This relationship is inappropriate because she is a minor and he is not and because he is her uncle. 3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day Paula Vogel chose to tell Li'l Bit's story. 4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Uncle Peck continue to abuse Li'l Bit?
Will Li'l Bit be able to heal after years of abuse and regain some sense of normalcy in her life?
Will other family members find out about the abuse? What will their response be? 5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Known to most; It is eventually revealed that other family members know that something inappropriate is occurring between Uncle Peck and Li'l Bit. However, the nature of the relationship is not known and Li'l Bit's mother blames her for Uncle Peck's behavior.
Known to one: Especially in the beginning, only Peck knows that what is happening is wrong. He manipulates the girl into not telling anyone and also manipulates her into giving consent (even though she can't because she is a minor. 6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I think the hotel scene when Li'l Bit finally puts her foot down and tells Peck that this needs to end is one of the most theatrical moments. It's the first time we see Li'l Bit as a woman as opposed to a little girl and this distinction is important because she can finally stick up for herself.
The scene where Li'l Bit gets drunk as a minor is also theatrical. 7. List some of the themes of the play.
Sexual Abuse
Growing up/ coming of age story
8. Choose the character of Li'l Bit in the show and articulate what she wants and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
Li'l Bit wants a father figure in her life. Peck knows this and takes advantage of her wants. He is clearly not an appropriate father figure but she will take what she can get. She also wants to learn how to drive. He again takes advantage of this time alone with her and abuses her during their driving lessons.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I think the image of the car and the scenes that take place in the car help us understand that for this girl, sexual abuse was just as much of her passage into adulthood as learning to drive a car is for most people. These scenes convey a sense of uncomfortable intimacy because she cannot escape. 10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
This play specifically analyzes the relationship between a young girl and her uncle (they are not related by blood). The whole play conveys the difficulty children face when adult family members take advantage of their trusting nature and abuse them. The dynamic between Li'l Bit and her mother and aunt is also interesting in they they partake in victim blaming. They do not blame Peck because "boys will be boys" but Li'l Bit should know better. Peck's wife knows something is going on but does not intervene on Lil Bit's behalf because it must be her fault. I think the dynamics in the family also contributed to such a long history of abuse. In the beginning, Vogel talks about how everyone's nicknames in the family are based on sexual innuendos.
This play is not told in chronological order, it shifts from different time periods and therefore, I think the stasis is the entirety of Li'l Bit's childhood. The protagonist is Li'l Bit, she is a young girl in a family with a difficult dynamic.Her Uncle Peck married into the family and is a charismatic and persuasive character. He fills the role of a father figure since Li'l Bit's father is not present in her life.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when we discover that Peck is the girl's much older uncle and that the sexual abuse/pedophilia has been occurring for quite some time. This relationship is inappropriate because she is a minor and he is not and because he is her uncle.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day Paula Vogel chose to tell Li'l Bit's story.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Uncle Peck continue to abuse Li'l Bit?
Will Li'l Bit be able to heal after years of abuse and regain some sense of normalcy in her life?
Will other family members find out about the abuse? What will their response be?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Known to most; It is eventually revealed that other family members know that something inappropriate is occurring between Uncle Peck and Li'l Bit. However, the nature of the relationship is not known and Li'l Bit's mother blames her for Uncle Peck's behavior.
Known to one: Especially in the beginning, only Peck knows that what is happening is wrong. He manipulates the girl into not telling anyone and also manipulates her into giving consent (even though she can't because she is a minor.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I think the hotel scene when Li'l Bit finally puts her foot down and tells Peck that this needs to end is one of the most theatrical moments. It's the first time we see Li'l Bit as a woman as opposed to a little girl and this distinction is important because she can finally stick up for herself.
The scene where Li'l Bit gets drunk as a minor is also theatrical.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Sexual Abuse
Growing up/ coming of age story
8. Choose the character of Li'l Bit in the show and articulate what she wants and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
Li'l Bit wants a father figure in her life. Peck knows this and takes advantage of her wants. He is clearly not an appropriate father figure but she will take what she can get. She also wants to learn how to drive. He again takes advantage of this time alone with her and abuses her during their driving lessons.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I think the image of the car and the scenes that take place in the car help us understand that for this girl, sexual abuse was just as much of her passage into adulthood as learning to drive a car is for most people. These scenes convey a sense of uncomfortable intimacy because she cannot escape.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
This play specifically analyzes the relationship between a young girl and her uncle (they are not related by blood). The whole play conveys the difficulty children face when adult family members take advantage of their trusting nature and abuse them. The dynamic between Li'l Bit and her mother and aunt is also interesting in they they partake in victim blaming. They do not blame Peck because "boys will be boys" but Li'l Bit should know better. Peck's wife knows something is going on but does not intervene on Lil Bit's behalf because it must be her fault. I think the dynamics in the family also contributed to such a long history of abuse. In the beginning, Vogel talks about how everyone's nicknames in the family are based on sexual innuendos.